CSIRONET (1985)
By Steve GartnerJuly 1st, 1985
CSIRONET is an Australia-wide computing network offering its services to CSIRO, government departments, tertiary institutions and private companies.
This video describes the range of services offered and shows how a number of clients benefit from using CSIRONET. The clients include a market research firm which developed powerful software in collaboration with CSIRONET, a remotely located Government Department which uses the software available on CSIRONET’s hosts for large scale processing, and an engineering authority which does numerically intensive computing and sophisticated graphics output through CSIRONET.
[A monitor appears on screen, music plays and images of people performing different activities flash by on the screen]
Narrator: From one end of Australia to the other, people are engaged in a multitude of activities which have one thing in common – they are all made easier, faster, or less costly, through the use of computers.
[Camera zooms in on fingers typing on the keyboard and then moves to a room filled with hard drives and computer equipment]
But rapid advances in computing technology are making decisions about the use of computers more difficult.
[Image changes to show people gathered around a desktop computer reviewing different graphs on the monitor]
The provision of reliable, high quality computing services has therefore become of crucial importance to Australia.
[Image changes to a man taking a seat in front of a desktop, he begins typing on the keyboard and the camera zooms in on the text on the monitor]
For over 20 years CSIRO has been providing advanced and general purpose computing services for its own scientists, and for other government funded institutions.
[Space music plays and image changes to the doors of a data control room opening slowly to reveal the people and equipment inside it]
Now it has created an independent commercial enterprise, offering its services to a wider range of potential clients.
[A computer generated map of Australia slowly rotates on the screen]
Now, industry, government bodies, universities and colleges, can take advantage of the unique combination of facilities and services offered by CSIRONET, CSIRO’s Australia wide computing network.
[The title: CSIRONET is stamped into the map of Australia]
[Image changes to show bunches of white wires and then zooms in on the CYBER205 computer system]
CSIRONET’s impressive range of computing hardware now includes the giant Cyber205. Australia’s first super computer, the 205 has significantly boosted the country’s capability in numerically intensive computing. Other computers will continue to be used in addition to the 205, to provide a variety of computing functions.
[Camera zooms in on the CYBER 170 computer system and then to an automated tape library system in operation]
CSIRONET clients have 24 hour access to a wide range of public databases, some of them developed by CSIRO. In addition, clients can have exclusive access to their own databases through CSIRONET.
[Image changes to a computer generated world map with yellow lines coming out of Australia and connecting to other parts of the world]
Worldwide links mean that CSIRONET clients can hook into the network from overseas, or into overseas computers from Australia. The challenge in computing is often the conversion of raw data into meaningful information.
[Image changes to show information on a monitor with the title: Disposable Income, Sydney Postcode Map]
The marketing consultancy EPASCO uses the colour view system to interpret a range of census data.
Male: Is there any particular age you’re interested in?
Male: Yes, 55.
Male: OK. I’ll stop it at 55.
[Image changes to show different information on a monitor]
Narrator: The system was developed jointly by CSIRONET, EPASCO, and Techway Proprietary Limited. EPASCO’s clients can add their own data to the system to suit particular needs. In this case they are deciding on the best location for automatic telling machines.
[Image changes to show a man using an ATM on a busy street]
Joint development projects are part of CSIRONET’s aim of providing its considerable expertise to help its clients reap the full benefits of up to date computing technology.
[Image changes to show a man and a lady reviewing sheets of paper with printed information on it]
For industry, that means staying ahead of the competition.
[Image changes to show a fishing boat on the ocean]
For research organisations and government bodies, it means more efficient and effective operation.
[Image changes to show men hauling in the catch, tons of fish fall onto the deck]
To handle the huge volume of data it gathers for the fishing industry, Victoria’s Marine Science Laboratories have relied for many years on CSIRONET’s powerful computers. The laboratories have installed their own node at Queenscliff.
[Image changes to the men recording details of the fish and then a to man seated at a desk typing data into his desktop computer]
The scientists can also access CSIRONET using acoustic couplers from their city offices, or from the network’s regional office in Melbourne.
[Image changes to a man setting up an acoustic coupler, data is then printed onto paper. Image then changes to a woman seated at a desk typing]
The Marine Science Laboratories have their own computing hardware, which they use in conjunction with CSIRONET facilities. Certain tasks are more cheaply managed offline, once the processed data has been retrieved from CSIRONET.
[Camera zooms in on a printer as it prints out the retrieved information]
Clients computing needs are often best met through the integrated use of the client’s own facilities and those of CSIRONET.
[Image changes to show some of the peripherals available, including a printer and plotter]
CSIRONET has its own range of peripherals available to clients including plotters, a graphic design work station, and high speed laser printing. Information can also be presented on microfiche for convenient storage, film for effective presentation, or bromide paper for publication.
[Image changes to show a scientist recording information from a snake specimen]
The Australian Bureau of Flora and Fauna is using this last facility to publish the results of the Australian Biological Resources Study.
[Image changes to show a woman viewing different species through a microscope]
The study of the flora alone will occupy over 50 volumes by the time it’s completed next Century. The massive amount of complex information is collected, then entered directly into CSIRONET. Software on CSIRONET typesets it, producing bromides ready for offset printing.
[The camera zooms in on the bromide printer and then to the completed book]
This process is quicker, cheaper, and results in fewer errors.
[Image has changed to a woman seated at desk entering information onto a desktop; the camera zooms in on the data]
CSIRONET also has an image processing laboratory, providing services such as enhancement and restoration of images, and satellite image processing.
[Image changes to a computer wireframe graphic of a tower appearing on a monitor and then to a man seated at a desk typing on his keyboard]
Linking graphics with large scale finite element analysis on the CSIRONET computers is helping the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation to predict the effects of earthquakes on structures such as dam walls and towers.
[Image changes to a computerised simulation of an earthquake, the wireframe tower is shaking from side to side]
The behaviour of water released from a broken dam can also be forecast in this way.
[Image changes to a computer simulation of water flowing over a dam wall]
The introduction of the Cyber205 means more economical processing of the raw data and production of the graphics.
[Image changes to two men discussing papers laid out on a table]
As a national resource CSIRONET is yet to be fully exploited. Its extensive facilities and vast network are backed up by a telephone advisory service.
[Image changes to a woman answering the phone, “CSIRONET, Helen speaking”]
A computing library, which is probably the best in Australia, user group meetings and workshops, and onsite consultation for clients whenever needed.
[Montage of images showing various industries and people performing different activities]
CSIRONET may be able to cost effectively meet your computing requirements; or we could help you to integrate the use of your facilities and ours; or perhaps you can develop special software or systems in collaboration with us.
[The title: CSIRONET is stamped into the map of Australia © 1985 CSIRO Australia]
CSIRONET is Australia’s largest computing network. Our aim is to provide you with state of the art computing services.